News release from the United Way of Allen County:
United Way’s Women United host Power of the Purse
Funds Raised for Early Childhood Education
(May 9, 2013) – United Way’s volunteer Women United group held their Power of the Purse event this evening to raise funds for early childhood education in Allen County. This unique event was well-attended with hundreds of guests and was projected to raise thousands of dollars.
“The early childhood years are critical to a child’s development and preparedness for school,” said Denice Beights, executive director of Fort Wayne Children’s Choir and chair of Women United’s Power of the Purse committee. “Women United’s Power of the Purse event is aimed at providing scholarships so that more children in our community have access to quality childcare programs.”
The last Power of the Purse event, which was held in September 2011, raised nearly $30,000. The parents who were awarded the scholarships were young mothers who were also enrolled in Catholic Charities’ ECHO program. This program helps teen parents finish their high school education and, in some cases, post-secondary training or college. The impact of the funds from Power of the Purse provided scholarships for their young children to enroll in high-quality childcare at Lutheran Social Services’ Children’s Village so that the mothers could focus on their own education and rest assured that their children were receiving high-quality early childhood care.
“Women United members are passionate about helping our community as a whole,” added Irene Walters, executive director of university relations and communications at IPFW, United Way board member and Women United co-chair. “We believe the place to start is with early childhood education, ensuring our youngest citizens have access to high-quality programs that prepare them for school and beyond.”
Power of the Purse is Women United’s signature fundraising event, which included silent auctions of extraordinary purses, an auction of a painting that was created live by local artist Theoplis Smith, live auctions of childcare scholarships, time for networking and plenty of social time. Sponsors for the event were: Matilda Jane, WANE-TV, A Party Apart, Britton Marketing, Glo Magazine, Jophiel, Indiana Michigan Power, Shindigz, IPFW, Peg Perego, Christine and Ed Schaefer, and Tom and Susan Smith.
About Women United:
Women United is a powerful collaboration of women committed to significantly improving the quality of life for children in Allen County by ensuring their readiness for kindergarten. Women United is dedicated to making a difference through focused philanthropic giving, advocacy and volunteerism. To find out more about this group or become a part of Women United, visit unitedwayallencounty.org or contact Kelly Wehman at 469-4009 or kellyw@uwacin.org.
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